Premium
Developing and mature oligodendrocytes respond differently to the immune cytokine interferon‐gamma
Author(s) -
Baerwald Kristine D.,
Popko Brian
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4547(19980415)52:2<230::aid-jnr11>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - remyelination , interferon gamma , oligodendrocyte , biology , immune system , myelin , immunology , cytokine , multiple sclerosis , programmed cell death , microbiology and biotechnology , apoptosis , neuroscience , central nervous system , genetics
Increasing evidence suggests that the immune cytokine interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) plays a deleterious role in immune‐mediated demyelinating disorders. To further understand the effects of IFN‐γ on oligodendrocytes, we have compared and quantitated the response of developing and mature oligodendrocytes in vitro to IFN‐γ and have observed several differences. Morphological changes and cell death occurred in developing cultures after 2 days in IFN‐γ, and in mature oligodendrocytes after 4–7 days. Developing oligodendrocytes underwent significantly increased apoptotic cell death in the presence of IFN‐γ, but mature oligodendrocytes exposed to IFN‐γ died of necrosis. Prior to morphological changes or cell death in mature oligodendrocytes exposed to IFN‐γ, steady‐state levels of myelin‐specific mRNAs and proteins were reduced. Thus, these results indicate that the sensitivity of oligodendrocytes to IFN‐γ is related to the developmental state of the cell. Such information is crucial for understanding the response of oligodendrocytes in immune‐mediated demyelinating disorders and during remyelination in these diseases. J. Neurosci. Res. 52:230–239, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.